Thread protector



Sept. 23, 1930. H. A. UNKE 1,776,528

I THREAD PROTECTOR Filed Now 14, 1928 "IIIIIII Patented Sept. 23, 1930 I 1,7 76,528-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A. UNKE, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO THREAD PROTECTOR Application filed November 14, 1928. Serial No. 319,345.

This invention relates to devices for proportion of the wall of the sleeve 12 is flared tecting the threads of pipes and other parts outwardly to form the skirt 16. The internal during handling and shipment. diameter of the skirt 16 is materially greater It is one of the objects of this invention to than the external diameter of the threaded 5 provide an improved form of thread proportion so that the protector may be readily tector that can be produced at low cost, and slipped over the end of the pipe, thus greatly which is adapted to be readily placed in pofacilitating the operation of arranging the sition over the threads and not likely to beprotector on the pipe. come displaced while the pipe is being han- In forming the sleeve 12, I prefer to have dled. the internal diameter of such size that the Another object of this invention is to proinner surface will not engage with the tops vide a thread protector adapted to be screwed of the threads 11, thereby avoiding any muinto position over the threads and having tilation of the threads in placing the prothread engaging means of an improved form. tector thereon, or in removing For pro 16 Other ob ects and advantages of the intectors for tapered threads, I prefer to make as Vention. will be apparent from the following the sleeve 12 of slightly tapering form. description taken in connection with the ac- In rder to secure th prot ctor n the companying drawings, of which: threads, and to prevent it from being knocked ig. 1 is an elevation of a pipe having a or jarred oil, I provide lugs 17 on the inner 20 protector embodying my invention applied periphery of sleeve 12 for engagement with thereto, the protector and a portion of the the threads 11. These lugs are arranged in pipe being shown in section; a plurality of circumferentially spaced axi- Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the protector ally extending rows, as shown in Figs. 2 and shown in Fig. 1, with a portion thereof f1, so that the lugs of the diflerent rows are 2 broken away; 1n relatively helical arrangement conforming Fig. 3 is an elevation of the outer end of to the helix of the threads of the pipe. The the protector; lugs are preferably formed in a stamping Fig. 4 is an elevation of the inner end of the press y means of dies, which displace slugs protector; and of metal radially inwardly from the wall of 30 Fig. 5 is a detail sectional view, on enthe sleeve by shearing force, and which swagc so larged scale, of the lugs as shown in Fig. 1, these slugs to form the wedge shaped projeceferring now to the drawings in detail, tions 17 on the inner periphery of sleeve 12, Fig. 1 shows the end portion of a length of as is best shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The lugs pipe 10 provided with the usual tapered of the different rows are spaced apart, in 35 threads 11, although the invention is 111 no the axial direction, a distance which is a way restricted to pipes or parts having tamultiple of the distance between successive pered threads. To protect the threads 11, I threads, and in this instance are shown spaced arrange thereon a metal sleeve 12, which is apart the distanceof two threads. preferably stamped from sheet metal and n applying he protector to the pipe the 40 id d t one d with an intu ed flange lugs 17 engage and follow the threads 11 as 13 which frictionally engages the inner corthe protector is rotated. The flange 13 is ner 14, of the end of the pipe 10, so as to assist thereby brought to bear against the inner in securing the protector in place. The incorner 14, of the end of the pipe 10, which turned flange 13 also serves to reenforce the causes lugs 17 to press against the sides, of 4 exposed end'of the protector. Additional re the threads 11, that are remote from the end enforcement is provided by the flange 15 of the pi e. The cooperation of the lugs 17 which extends radially inwardly from flange and the ange 13 thus serves to prevent the 13, and also by the rounded form of the exprotector from being removed from the pipe posed or outer end of the protector. At the y straight axial movement.

60 opposite 0r inner end of the protector the end While I have shown and described the pre we 2 l v inverse ferred form of my invention, it will, of

course, be understood that I do not regard my invention as limited to the particular.

embodiment disclosed, since various changes I may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A pipe thread protector comprising a continuous sleeve. formed from sheet metal and having an outwardly flaring annular skirt at one end of said sleeve, and an inturned flange at the other end of said sleeve adapted to engage the inner corner of the end of a pipe, said sleeve having portions thereof pressed radially inwardly to form a plurality of substantially V-shaped solid lugs spaced axially and circumferentially of the sleeve in relatively helical arrangement for engage- I ment with the threads when the protector-is screwed on said pipe.

2. A pipe thread protector comprising a continuous metallic sleeve adapted to surround threads to be protected and provided with solid swaged lugs spaced axially and circumferentially on the inner periphery of said sleeve in relatively helical arrangement whereby the protector may be screwed on said threads, said lugs beingformed from slugs of metal displaced radially inwardly from the wall of said sleeve. H

3. A pipe thread protector comprising a continuous metallic sleeve adapted to surround threads to be protected and provided with solid substantially -V-shaped swaged lugs spaced axially and circumferentially on the inner periphery of said sleeve in relatively helical arrangement whereby the protector 40 may be screwed on said threads, said lugs being formed from slugs of metal displaced radially inwardly from the wall of said sleeve,

and an inturned flange at one end oi said sleeve adapted to engage the inner corner of the end of said pipe.

4. A pipe thread protector comprising a continuousmetallic sleeve adapted to surround threads to be protected, and swaged substantially V-shaped solid projections on the inner periphery of said sleeve and spaced to engage the threads to be protected to retain the sleeve thereon. a

5. A pipe thread protector comprising a continuous metallic sleeve adapted to sur round threads to be protected, and swaged substantially V- haped solid projections on i the inner periphery of said sleeve and spaced to engage the threads to be protected to retain the sleeve thereon, and an inturned flange at one end of said sleeveadapted to frictionally engage the end of said pipe.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

G5 HERMAN A. UN. 

